Glossary.

All the words - explained.

I’m a big believer in addressing assumed knowledge.

I have a gripe with people sometimes…. often actually. I mean, I get when someone is passionately talking about their jam, and using all their relevant words. But so often the listener feels a little ostracised by not know what the hell a large chunk of the speakers words mean, in context…

Here is where you’ll find the contextual meaning of some apparel-industry words. This page will be updated as time goes on, with new words and meanings.

Block

Nope, not a piece of wood or obstacle. A block, or block pattern is a master template from which you use to create a new pattern from.

Maker

This one has two industry meanings. One: on a non-commercial level, a maker is an individual who can be employed to sew/knit/other creative apparel-making technique for you. Two: for commercial production, a maker actually refers to a factory, with multiple individual makers.

Mock up | Toile

These words are interchangeable. Their shared meaning is: an item cut and sewn from a pattern to test the design, fit and/or function before alterations are made and the pattern is finalised to then create a finished product.

Pattern

Nope, not ducks and unicorns printed on fabric. A pattern is a group of pieces (paper, cardboard or digital) created from a block. For example - a T-shirt would have at least a front, back, sleeve and neckband pattern piece. Pattern pieces are created by using a garment or accessory design.

Proving

This is a pattern making action that you take when developing a pattern. Usually it would be when you join two pattern pieces together at the seams to ensure that the line between the pieces is smooth and aligned. For example, at the hem, you would overlay the front and back pieces of a pattern to ensure there isn’t a sharp angle at the bottom edge.

Sashiko

Is a Japanese hand-stitching technique used in visible repair.